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All the guys in the background cheered. I broke away from Ryan and Gabe to sidle up to the drinks table. Although I had sworn to myself to get through this entire event with meditation, it just wasn't cutting it anymore. I needed something a little stronger: whiskey, preferably.
I poured myself a whiskey on ice and swirled it as I glanced around at the guys in attendance. Everyone was having a great time. I smiled at the small collection of guys parked in front of the flat-screen television, nudging into each other while playing a street fighting game. A few others were perched in the corner with a board game and Ryan, being the groom, was in the center of it all, basking in the attention.
I leaned back against the table. Gabe strolled up to me with a beer in his hand. “It's good to see him happy.”
“Yeah, he really deserves it.”
“How are you holding up?”
I shrugged. “I'm doing just fine.”
“I'm sure this is less exciting than Paris.”
“Hey, you don't know that for sure.”
He laughed. “Well, I'd love to find out.”
“Of course. One of these days.”
“I wish Clara had the traveling spirit. She would have loved visiting Paris, I'm sure. I wanted to get her a dog to keep her company. You know, one of those service animals.”
I gulped down a mouthful of whiskey. I sighed when it sank into my belly, hitting hard into my organs. “Yeah, that sounds cool.”
“Dogs are such receptive creatures. They're good at helping people calm down.”
“Yep.”
“I do wonder if that would have helped her along with my decision. Maybe if I had gotten her a dog before inviting her to move, she would have gone for it.”
I shrugged. “Well, it's in the past now.”
“It sure is, isn't it?” He tipped back his beer. “Do you want to do a round of beer pong?”
I frowned at the table. There were already people crowded around it. “I don't know.”
“Hey, come on, man. You should loosen up. You can't be moping about Clara for this long.”
“Who said I was moping about Clara?”
He chuckled. “I mean, it's all over your face, dude.”
“How nice of you to point that out.”
“I'm just being a good friend. That's all. And good friends get their sad friends to drink.”
“That doesn't sound healthy.”
He tried to laugh it off. “It's not a big deal, dude. I'm still warped over Clara, too. Mine is way more fresh than yours. I wish she hadn't done that to me.”
“Well, it sucks.”
“It does suck,” he sighed as he relaxed against the table. He cradled his beer in his hands. “It feels like she totally ditched me.”
I swallowed more whiskey. It was needed.
“And I bet she'll look gorgeous at the wedding. She's always looked good in gowns. I wish she would have worn them more. She liked going out, but she didn't always want to do the fancy thing with me.”
I shook my head, trying to find another focal point.